Gunners assistant coach sympathises with supporters

Steve Bould, Arsenal’s assistant manager, understands the frustrations of the fans after the team’s shock Champions League loss to Schalke.

The Gunners went down 2-0 to the Bundesliga side last night at the Emirates Stadium, with furious fans walking out before the end of the match, after Ibrahim Afellay scored the German team’s second goal, with boos from the crowd after the game ended.

Bould understands and shares the frustrations from supporters saying: “We’ve lost at home and of course they’re frustrated. We are as well.”

He expressed his disappointment at the way the Gunners played. Bould said: “We don’t like losing football games, but we have to pick ourselves up and start again. We haven’t played anything like we can – that was the big disappointment. We haven’t performed and we lacked confidence, for whatever reason. It’s a tough competition and Schalke are a good side who beat Dortmund at the weekend. They’re doing well and a 0-0 would have delighted us. We looked like we were going to get away with it for a long time. We looked jaded – I don’t know why that is. Since coming off the international break we haven’t performed. We were very sharp against West Ham but since returning from the internationals we’ve been jaded.”

The Gunners struggled to get goal chances in the game, and on this Bould said: “The lack of chances isn’t worrying, but it’s not what we want or are accustomed to. We normally create chances and now we’re not, so we need to correct that.”

Schalke are now top of Arsenal’s Champions League group, with the Gunners a point behind.

Bould also confirmed that injured Theo Walcott will not be able to play in the Gunners’ QPR game.